In times like this, it is easy to think the sky is falling. It is easy to look at the big picture and see the Broncos’ season slipping away.
On the surface, things look bad. The Broncos are 2-4 and as we have discussed many times, that is the bottom line, which is all that really matters when the season is over.
But the season isn’t over, not by a long shot. There is a lot of football left to be played. Call me a homer if you want, but I’m just not going to dismiss the final ten games simply because the Broncos are off to rough start.
Yes, I am generally a positive and optimistic person. I will look for the silver lining. I will try to find rational reasons that suggest a possible positive outcome. I like to think I can take that approach without being ignorant or naïve to the reality of a situation.
So what is the most reasonable course of action? To me, it is to look at how the Broncos are playing and try to determine if the Broncos can realistically make something positive of the season after some early struggles.
I believe they can. Here are a few reasons why.
1 – THE SCHEDULE. Let’s face it, the Broncos have just completed a brutal four-game stretch of hosting the Colts, playing at the Titans and Ravens and hosting the Jets. Those are four of the best teams in the AFC. I never had any illusions that the Broncos are at the level of those teams yet, but they still managed a win over Tennessee and they played right with the Colts and Jets. They did this despite mounting injuries.
2 – THE SCHEDULE. On Monday, Broncos’ head coach Josh McDaniels correctly stated that there is no easy game in the NFL.
“They are all good teams,” McDaniels said. “There is no question about that. We will play another one this week in our division. Every game is that way I think. If you play really well and they play really well, it is probably going to be a close game. If you don’t play well, it really doesn’t matter who you are playing, they are going to have a chance to beat you.”
The fact is that the Broncos are entering a stretch of games in which the opponents are not as good as those in four-game stretch they just completed. The Raiders and 49ers are next. Then after the bye, the Broncos host the Chiefs, play at the Chargers and take on the Rams at Invesco Field at Mile High.
That is a five-game run of games that are completely winnable. Certainly there is no guarantee the Broncos will win any or all of them. The key is that the Broncos have to play consistently well.
3 – THE BRONCOS ARE PLAYING BETTER. After what I saw against the Jets, I’ll give the Broncos a pass for their poor performance against the Ravens. All NFL teams have those kind of games. The Broncos had one on the road against an excellent team. It happens. If it happens on a regular basis, then that constitutes a major problem. But that kind of game has been the exception, not the rule for the Broncos.
The way the Broncos responded with a quality performance against the Jets told me some things about their fortitude. They have what it takes to overcome the injuries. They have what it takes to play well against a good team. They have what it takes to be tough when it counts.
Now they need to have what it takes to finish off opponents and win games. I believe they have that.
Some people might point to the Broncos’ 4-12 record since they started out 6-0 last year and wonder how in the world the Broncos will turn this around.
Some might point to a struggling running game and pass rush, among other issues, and say the Broncos can’t consistently win this year.
And those who point to such things raise questions and issues that have merit. In the long run, those people may very well be right. I’m just not yet ready to wave the white flag and admit they are.
There is too much football left to be played.
What are your thoughts? Do you agree or is the 2-4 too disappointing to allow you to think things might get better for the Broncos? I always enjoy your posts and appreciate your sharing your thoughts.
Thanks for reading.
Best,
Mike
Tags: 2010, Denver Broncos, Head Coach Josh McDaniels, Mike Rice
Yeah, Brian when I read that I just laughed out loud all by myself, trading Maroney, hahahahaha….
bs….Maroney Boloney.haha
Its time. Deadline is over.
We might trade Maroney for a boloney sandwich,which is more than he’s worth.LOL
Yeah, now we will have to wait for the NFL or the teams to pass it on to the press.
All that baloney talk is making me hungry…
LMAO
Is it me or is anyone else tickled pink that Dallas is 1-4,Jerry Jones thought they would be great,and be the 1st team in history to play the Superbowl with home field advantage…Dallas sucks.
Yeah…baloney, cheese, and some crushed potato chips….yummy!!
Everything is bigger in Texas, that includes the L column.
NFL Network just now report that there was no trades that they know of at this time.
That “THEY” know of…
My cousin who lives in the Fortworth area is a huge Dallas fan. We talk once a week about how are teams are doing. I feel bad for him.
Correct, that they know of is right. you never know.
Broncfalls…as others have said, I’m with you on the analogy. Well done and there is definitely truth to it! Thanks for weighing in. Nice! Mike
07elway…the fact the Broncos are so unpredictable makes it both really fun and at the same time pretty maddening to watch them…depending on which team shows up. I do think they will be more consistent as the season goes on and be a better team as the season progresses, too.
Thanks for the post.
Mike
Strandofts does your cousin feel bad for you??? We are 2-4,just saying.LOL
The NFL Network is a joke anyway if you ask me,and I’ll wait and see for myself if there are any trades.They don’t KNOW much anyway.
Came back from Denver yesterday afternoon and have had a chance to catch up on most of the 1000 or so posts on the blog. First, Baylinor I need a correction made. You gave me a point for 5th place in the prediction contest for picking the Jets 20-38. That was not me. I picked Broncos 27-24 so don’t want that 1 point unfairly.
Second I want to say what a fun Sunday I spent at the game. It was exciting and we were high fiveing with Bronco fans around us and having a great day. I enjoyed watching McD go to every player before the game started while they were stretching and doing knuckles or high fives and chatting. I got the impression he is a spirited and a well liked coach. The sea of orange with all the the orange towells waving was awesome. It must have been about 75 degrees and just a fun day. I believe the Jets played well and the Broncos played well. I don’t think we caught them on a down day. I believe we stepped it up a big notch. We made some mistakes and they did too but we had more 1st downs, more yards, and more time of possession although close in each department. I’m glad to read the blogs and not see everyone calling for McD’s head this week. I believe personally we have a bright young coach who is building a TEAM to win with.
3rd-I have said numerous times in these blogs that I expected to be 2-4 at this point. I picked every game two weeks before the season like lot’s do and had us at 2-4. Only difference I predicted a win at Jags and loss at Titans. Then I picked the next two as wins to be 4-4 and then to go 6-2 for a 10-6 record so I haven’t given up and still believe we have a building team on the right track. I believe it showed this weekend that we are improving inspite of all the injuries. I rode to the airport with several Jet fans in the shuttle and they were very complimentary about how well the Broncos played. I believe we have much hope for the season and for the future and I believe Champ will be with us for the long haul. Go Broncos.
Hello again fellow Bronco fans!
Quick question….I’m starting to hear a little grumbling/trade talks coming from Dallas about Barber….
Thoughts????? Interesting I thought
GO GET EM’ BOYS!
Bay,
It just dawned on me my friend, that you are a resident of TX I believe…have you heard anything throught the grape vines?
GO GET EM’ BOYS!
It would be interesting to see what they’d want for him. Is there some “underlying” issue? Does he fit McD’s “style” of players is the real question.
Great point Brian_S….I tend to think of Barber as more of a power back than say Moreno or Buck. Moreno to me is more of that slasher guy while Barber tends to run more north south harder….Maybe I’m wrong but …..it’s still interesting when you consider that Maroney hasn’t quite produced as expected even though you consider the OLine’s responsibility to the run game as well
GO GET EM’ BOYS!
Thanks danso, you are right, I crossed your line with oldsouthstander, that’s who got 5th place, thanks for catching it, I will enter the correction.
Hopefully not a repost, but Adam Schefter reports Kansas City traded former third-round pick, defensive end Alex Magee, to Tampa Bay for draft conditions.
Broncfalls, the only rumor I’ve heard about Marion Barber is a possible trade with the Packers, but nothing about the Broncos.
Yeah I would imagine we are going to hear of more trade reports coming in.
a funny article said “THe whole Raiders roster on trading block”….crazy. might as well grab seymour or Mclain,,lol,, big boost!
Id like to hear of the upcoming trades.
win the next 2 and go 4-4 into the bye
ESPN reports one deal for now. KC trade Alex Magee and a draft pick in 2011 to Bucs for a draft pick in 2011.
Hey all I’M BACK!!!
Welcome back
Broncos 27-Dorkland 13 !
Welcome back 66, there is a new blog on by Saccomano you all, pretty cool AFC West stuff.
I thought we played well vs the Jets and woulda won w/out that questionable PI call on Cox (Holmes put his hands on Cox first to get position which coulda cancelled out the facemask) and even still had a change till the bad snap. Still, I would’ve loved to win that game.
I’m cautiously optimistic, as well, and think that in this year’s AFC West, w/the Chargers playing poorly, we have a chance eclipse 8-8 for the first time in 4 or 5 seasons.
At the start of the season, I said I’d be happy w/9-7 or 10-6 but couldn’t reasonably expect any better. I mainly wanted to see improvement, and I have…especially w/the run game stepping up last week.
2011 is the bellweather year for Coach McD, and though I was critical of the young coach and the wholesale moves made by the team early on – I was admittedly angry at Bowlen for canning Shanny when we had the #2 offense in the league and really just needed a defenisve overhaul – I am now in his corner and buying into his system. I think Josh McDaniels is gonna be an outstanding coach and have a great career and hope he has the success in Denver to make it a long run and restore our Donkeys to the caliber of our glory days teams of the 80s and 90s. I don’t expect to ever have another Elway come along, and we’d be lucky to get a second coming of TD, but I feel good about the team and looking forward to the rest of the season and coming down to the wire w/at least a chance to play a 17th game. That’s all I’m asking for…just a chance!
Go Broncos!
I think we’re a really good team, but we keep shooting ourselves in the foot A LOT (bad snaps, stupid penalties)
Mike, I enjoy reading your posts. As well as the comments that follow. I know I’m a little late to the discussion, but want to add my thoughts.
The only goal this team should be focusing on is beating Oakland.
GO BRONCOS!!
6 games in the division. I am predicting a 2-4 outcome.
Chargers 0-2
Chiefs 1-1
Oakland 1-1
Overall it is going to take some weird happenings for us to get into the playoffs. We have to win against the playoff caliber teams and have shown again this season that we can hang but not win against such teams. The only way to do so is to keep Orton off the ground. In McD’s passing system we can pass our way into the playoffs provided he has the protection necessary which given our O-line is coming together I see light at the end of that tunnel. If we don’t start winning consistently we are hopeless. On the most positive note, it seems to me that McD has improved his interpersonal relationships with players after a loss. This is a great thing and should not be over looked. To turn this 2-4 frown upside down we have to win the winnable games, and not just by a few points, a couple of blow outs against the lesser teams would be ideal. This year I see growth and development that has me holding onto my pipe dream about winning it all.
the broncos have been in all there games this year but the ravens game they had a chance to beat the jags they had a chance to beat the colts they had a chance to beat the jets they just need to finish games and where be fine. i no no game in the NFL is a easy win but with the raiders and 49ers next then a bye then looking at the rest of the schedule i think the worst is behind us chiefs Chargers rams chiefs again cardinals and then raiders again all those games r winnable games i mean to be honest the hardest game i think denver has for the rest of the year is against the texans so i easily see denver getting a wild card spot at worest
mikeds27, there will be no wild card spot, we already have lost 4 AFC conference games, therefore lost any chance of tie breaker, and there are only 2 wildcards, one will go to the AFC East, either the Jets or Pats, the other one to the AFC North, either Pittsburgh or Baltimore, and if that fails it will got to the AFC South, either the Colts or Texans or even Tennessee. Every single one of those team has a better shot than us, so how in the world can anyone not know that there is no way in hell, unless it freezes over, that we get a wild card, the AFC West is the weakest division in the AFC by far, how on earth can anyone say we will at least get a wild card. I know how, they don’t know what a wild card is and what you have to do to get one, that’s all I can figure, you need to learn playoffs implications better you will enjoy the game more, just saying. We need to win the division to get in, that’s the only way, period, you can take that to any bank you want, it’s good money.
Some think that I’m too optimistic by still believing the Broncos will win the superbowl this year but if McD figures out Shanahan’s 1 cut and down hill system, it won’t matter who we have back there, just like the good ol’ day’s. (Marony not included)
We were the better team last Sunday but unfortunately the ball isn’t round and it didn’t bounce our way. However, our D is developing, nobody in the league can hang w/ our passing attack. (McD was too conservative on offense in the 4th, I think he should’ve been throwing) and I’m a little more confident in our Red Zone offense w/ the Tebow package. I think we’ll see much more of him as he and the season develops. I’m confident that we’re the team that’s going to gel come playoff time and I guarantee the J-E-T-S don’t want to see us again.
our young Db’s are to short to start and play every down , which is what your asking for by calling for the trading of Bailey . I can’t see a trade that would be made that would be satisfactory for both the Broncos and the team willing to make the trade . What would that trade even look like ? I say no to trading champ !
We’ll also get LenDale White back soon.. Unless I’m missing something there.. Can’t be worst than Maroney right??
OOps.. nevermind.. can’t play with torn ACL.. LOL
White has a torn achiles tendon, a foot injury, not a knee injury and is on IR so he cannot play this year even if we make the playoffs.
If Maroney could run north and south instead of east and west he might be worth something . But I see no hope because he has indecision everytime he gets the ball,stutter stepping wont do . I think the only reason we won six in a row last year is because Mcdaniels hadn’t had time to tweak the team . Where is that New England concept of team work ?????????????????????